Urban Kitchen opened in August 2013 and has so far proved a popular haunt for Guernsey locals to frequent.

Lisa owned French Accents, a European delicatessen, for three years before deciding to branch out and try something new. The deli served French products alone to begin with and was rebranded to become Gourmet Grocer after Lisa discovered there was so many other mouth watering products outside France.

The area the deli was based in was quickly losing its popularity and so Gourmet Grocer decided to search for larger premises where more could achieved with the space; and so Urban Kitchen was born. Lisa said:

“The inspiration for Urban Kitchen, which opened its doors on the 18th August 2013, came from a couple of places we had seen in England; including Bills in London’s Covent Garden and Carluccios in Cambridge. We wanted to create a space where food was available to take out from the delicatessen, as well as an area where diners could be served a selection of dishes in an elegant eatery.

“The initial venue was too small to do that; and then we found the great location of The Royal Terrace.”

When the team moved onto the site it was just an empty shell. Yorkshire based firm Andy Thornton conducted the designs for Urban Kitchen which began on site in March 2013.

The venue is vibrant with a vast amount of light shining into the eclectic eatery. Lisa said that the venue offers a different experience for Guernsey locals as it replicates London restaurants as opposed typical Guernsey venues.

Diners will be struck by the impressive 80 cover restaurant upon entering the venue which comprises an eclectic mix of seating and tables. The owners wanted to strike a balance between being a fresh and modern dining venue as well as being a comfortable homely cafe.

To achieve this multi-functional feel the venue contains sofas, stools and coffee tables where passers-by can pop in and sample the delectable drinks and snacks available. The venue also boasts formal dining tables with a mixture of upholstered, suede and fabric chairs. The owners aimed to create a flexible vibe where the decor and seating arrangements suited the purpose of all guests.

There are also two al fresco areas for diners to enjoy; one situated at the front of the building and the next one backing into the royal plaza. The areas act as beautiful places for guests to relax in the summer months.

The restaurant serves a variety of dishes including the popular urban fishcake and chunky steak sandwiches, served on sandwich boards, with pewter pots containing crispy chips. The restaurant also offers grazing boards which have a selection of deli items for people to share.

The deli sports a large selection of cheeses from all around the world and boasts sumptuous sliced meats. Guests can also sample pates and broules from France, Germany and Italy as well as Continental sausage fillings.

Lisa said the venue brings something special to the community:

“Urban Kitchen offers a new destination for people to meet with friends and family. We believe it offers somewhere you can have a coffee and piece of cake; as well as a place you can sample want a delicious meal varying from one to three courses.

“Obviously the venue is still a work in progress; it’s always evolving. The place captured my imagination as it fulfils a niche in Guernsey and offers somewhere interesting for people to visit.

“I’m proud that we do not offer the same menu every day for three months; we vary our menu and use fresh, local produce. There is a lot of passing trade because so it has proved very popular.”